Break-up-giant-banks amendment failed...

[Eric J in MN]

http://www.talkingpointsmemo.com/news/2010/05/senate_rejects_attempt_to_cut_size_of_big_banks.php

"The Senate voted 61-33 against a proposal that would have required the nation's giant banks to split up. The Obama administration has argued that the size of financial institutions was not the root cause of the 2008 Wall Street crisis."


Al Franken voted Yes, to break up giant banks.
Amy Klobuchar voted No.

Roll Call

[geardaddy]

1. I'm reccing for Franken

wish I could unrec for dipshit.

[mascarax]

4. +1

I need to call Al's office and thank him for representing us.

[becxx]

2. Klobuchar sticks it to us again

First Klobuchar refused to support the public option until it was too late to pass; then she refused to do anything substantive on jobs, jobs, jobs; and now she wants us to live with corporations that have become far to powerful. If there is anything Klobuchar can do to make life miserable for the middle class, she does it. Her preference for black suits matches the her soul I'm afraid -- Klobuchar has certainly made a Faustian bargain. In the meantime, she'll be busy with her photo ops, speeches and magazine spreads I'm sure.

[bvar22]

3. The Democratic Party is part of the problem....

or rather,
Part of the Democratic Party is the root of the problem.
The Democratic Wing of the Democratic Party still represents the lower 99% of Americans,
but the "Centrists" (including the Obama Administration) have sold us out.

"Wall Street IS Main Street."
Oh really?



The DLC New Team
Progressives Need NOT Apply

(Screen Capped from the DLC Website)


"There are forces within the Democratic Party who want us to sound like kinder, gentler Republicans."
---Paul Wellstone

[geardaddy]

5. Excellent Wellstone quote there.

:thumbsup:

[becxx]

6. Good quote from Wellstone and timely too

It is not just Klobuchar who has made a Faustian bargain. Kelliher is falling over herself to make the same bargain. The voters aren't buy it though and Kelliher is way behind Emmer in the polls. The voters seem to ask: which is better a Republican who sticks it the poor or a Democrat who sticks it to the poor. The voters seem to prefer the Republican because at least the Republican is honest.

I read in the newspaper that Kelliher is having a hard time rallying the Dems. No wonder.

I agree with some of the comments about Obama too. He's definitely not progressive.

[dflprincess]

7. Emmer is running ahead of all the DFLers who are going into the primary

I'm not a big fan of Kelliher but she is a way better than Emmer and it shocks me that people would prefer him over any or all of the DFLers (even Entenza and that makes me cringe). I can only hope that the voters who selected him in this poll are not familiar with how extreme he is and that the DFL will get that message across.

Kelliher will need to get past her image of being an an insider - which will be difficult becasue that's exactly what she is. The big reason she got the endorsement was because of the "super delegates" who supported her. And this idea of elected officials being "super delegates" at either the state or the federal levels needs to be done away with.

[becxx]

8. Swallowing Kelliher

Kelliher is a difficult candidate to swallow. Even I find her very distasteful and I feel like upchucking when I think about the prospect.

Why the delegates did not chose Thissen who would be charming and electable is beyond me. I think Kelliher made a lot of insider promises to get that endorsement but that will not help her win the election.

I'm thinking of supporting Dayton in the primary.

[mascarax]

9. Superdelegates and caucus

Dflprincess - agree with your point. Kelliher and DFL really needs to get the message across about Emmer.

Open questions for all reading...am curious:

1. How could the superdelegate system be removed?
2. What do you think of the MN caucus system?

[dflprincess]

10. I like the caucus system

Contrary to complaints you hear about it, it is open to everyone and the people who show up tend to be better informed than primary voters. And I include those who choose not to go on to the next convention level in that better informed group. The caucuses also allow for much more discussion of issues and finding out just where candidates stand.

As far as getting rid of the super delegates - I don't know how it could be done at the national level but at the state, it could start with a resolutions to amend the Call to limit delegates to those elected at their country unit or senate district convention. However, if we want that changed before the 2012 caucuses it would have to come from a resolution passed by the State Central Committee. At this point, it would probably be better to wait & see what happens this fall. If Kelliher does not come through the primary or wins that but loses the general election, it might be easier to get the the Central Committee to do something as we'll all be looking for someone to blame.

[barefootguy]

11. re: Superdelegates

I am a member of the State DFL Constitution and Bylaws Commission. Removing legislators as superdelegates would require an amendment to the DFL Constitution. This can only be done at the state convention. Our commission will be starting work shortly for the next call and convention, and we present a slate of amendments to the Convention for consideration. A good place to start would be to come to one of our meetings with specific language for the constitutional change. In this case, it would just be striking "DFL members of the State Senate and State House of Representatives" from Article VIII, Section 1, Subsection (b) of the DFL constitution. I would be inclined to support such a change. Our next meeting has not been called yet, but would would be happy to let anyone who is interested know as soon as it is scheduled.

[mascarax]

12. Thanks for your responses...

About the caucus and super delegates.

Yes, please let us know about the next meeting. Do you think others are likely to support removing the super delegates privilege (whatever the right word is) though?

[glinda]

13. If Emmer gets it that is it. I am moving.